4.2 How Minerals Form

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Vocabulary

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Solution: mixture in which one substance dissolves in another
Vein: narrow channel or slab of a mineral that is much different from the surrounding rock
Crystallization: process where atoms are arranged to form a material with crystal structure

Outline

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• Process that Form Minerals
  • crystallization of melted materials
  • crystallization of materials dissolved in water
• Minerals from Magma
  • magma cools slowly if deep below surface
    • leads to large crystals
  • magma cools fast if close to surface
    • leads to small crystals
• Minerals from Hot Water Solution
  • the steps of minerals forming in hot water solutions
    • first, the ocean water goes down the earth's surface
    • then, once it comes in contact with the magma, it gets heated to a very high temperature
    • the heated water dissolves minerals in the crust
    • the water starts to go upwards and shoot out from the chimney
    • the hot solution hits the cold water
    • the solution starts to cool down and goes down deep to the ocean floor
• Minerals formed by Evaporation
  • thick deposits of the mineral halite form over millions of years
    • when the ancient seas slowly evaporated
• Where Minerals are Found
  • earth's crust is made up of mostly rock- forming minerals
    • valuable minerals are near areas in volcanic activity and mountain building

Diagram

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